Chelsea and Bournemouth set Premier League record as super-sub gives Blues win (original) (raw)

BOURNEMOUTH 0-1 CHELSEA: Bournemouth were made to pay for a first-half penalty miss as substitute Christopher Nkunku scored a late winner for Chelsea on the south coast

Christopher Nkunku celebrating his winner against Bournemouth

Chelsea's Premier League win at Bournemouth set a new Premier League record for the most cards shown in one match.

Six Bournemouth players went into the book at the Vitality Stadium, along with eight for the visitors. Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was also shown a yellow card, as was Cherries coach Pablo de la Torre.

The total of f4 yellows for players beats the record set last season, when 12 yellows and a red were handed out in Tottenham's dramatic late win against Sheffield United. Before that game, the record had been held by the feisty 2016 clash between Chelsea and Tottenham which became known as the Battle of Stamford Bridge.

On the field, it was Chelsea who came out on top despite their opponents creating plenty. Evanilson had a first-half penalty saved by Robert Sanchez, and the Brazilian was made to pay as Christopher Nkunku came off the bench to win it for the visitors.

Referee Anthony Taylor didn't reach for his cards at all in the first 15 minutes, but did so shortly afterwards when Ryan Christie went into the book for a foul on Cole Palmer. After that, though, the floodgates opened.

Taylor had reached for his pocket six times by the break. Wesley Fofana was carded for a foul on Evanilson, while Sanchez's foul on the same player brought Bournemouth a penalty and Sanchez a booking.

Marc Cucurella had been carded for dissent moments before the penalty, while Lewis Cook and Adam Smith joined team-mate Christie in the book before half-time. Smith's yellow was for something he said as players from both sides came together following the award of the spot-kick.

Will the yellow card record be beaten any time soon? Have your say in the comments section

Antoine Semenyo was the 14th player to go into the book (

Image:

PA)

Fans were given a few minutes of peace after the break, but it didn't last. De La Torre was the next to get into Taylor's bad books, followed by Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson.

Levi Colwill followed for a foul on his own, with substitute Jadon Sancho booked for dissent on his Chelsea debut. Moments later it was Justin Kluivert's turn, followed by Chelsea boss Maresca.

After a break of nearly 15 minutes without a card Marcos Senesi brought the total up to 11 for players and 13 in total. Then, after a brief hiatus as Chelsea scored the only goal of the game, Renato Veiga took the total up to 12 as he went into the crowd to celebrate.

There was still time for two more yellows in stoppage-time. Joao Felix made it 13, equalling the number of cards from that Spurs vs Sheffield United game, with Antoine Semenyo setting the new record right at the death.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was joined in the book by eight of his players (

Image:

Graham Hunt/ProSports/REX/Shutterstock)

"It's not a problem this amount of yellow cards," Chelsea manager Maresca said after the match. "It is what it is."

"I complained about a foul on Wesley Fofana which for me was quite clear but it can happen," he told Sky Sports. "Eight yellow cards probably because these sort of games are about duels and fight and this can happen. It is not a problem for me with this amount of yellow cards. It is what it is. Sometimes the game demands the way you have to behave."

"I will not talk about the referee," Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola added. "I have been talking and it is not working so I have decide now I will try the opposite and see what happens."

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